A Piece That Connects Us
The 2026 Run the Year word, Inspiration, celebrates the positive influence individuals and communities can have on our lives within our year-long fitness challenge
For some, inspiration comes from within—pushing through grief, having the courage to face physical or mental setbacks, or finding the inner strength to begin again. It’s the fuel that drives your daily miles, keeps you on track with training plans for marathons, and motivates you to cross every finish line.
For others, inspiration comes from external support—the encouragement of friends, teammates, and fellow participants. A community fitness challenge amplifies these moments, helping you feel seen, heard, and valued as you achieve each mile.
We see inspiration embodied every day in the RTE community: courage in the face of challenges, kindness in supporting one another, and celebration of every effort and every milestone throughout this virtual fitness challenge.
A Legacy That Lasts
Inspiration has been at the heart of Run the Edge from the very beginning. When Adam Goucher and Tim Catalano started RTE, they wanted to create a challenge that kept people moving through an entire year while also helping them discover their potential...their edge. This is a primary benefit of longer virtual fitness challenges: consistent, year-round motivation.
Fourteen years later, the RTE community continues to inspire by challenging themselves and encouraging others. Sign up for Run the Year and use the Tracker app to log your progress toward your extraordinary goals: completing a virtual run, walk, step, or move challenge; joining a fitness challenge for teams; or earning bibs or badges in a virtual fitness challenge.
Carry It Forward
Challenges, in fitness and in life, look different for everyone, and so does Inspiration. This is why we celebrate all paces, movement, and milestones. Whether you are eyeing a 5K, seeking training plans for half and full marathons, a casual walker , or moving in a different way, let this community support your goal.
Our virtual fitness challenge for beginners and seasoned runners alike makes it simple to stay motivated. Track your progress using the best app for team fitness challenge events, participate in community challenges, and experience the unique benefits of virtual fitness challenges—all while striving to Run the Year.
No matter your goal, inspiration is everywhere: in your own perseverance, in the community cheering you on, and in the legacy you build through every mile. Join us, carry it forward, and let your journey inspire others along the way.
